Common Injuries Seen in High School Athletes

from Our City Plantation: December 2021

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Teenage athletes are injured about the same rate as professional athletes, but the high school athletic injuries are different. This is mainly because high school athletes are still growing. Injuries often occur when athletes suddenly increase the duration, intensity, and or frequency of their activity. The pressure to play can lead to decisions that place the athlete at risk of additional injury with long-term effects, therefore it is important to see a foot & ankle specialist if an lower extremity injury does occur. In the young athletic population, we commonly see two categories of injuries in the foot & ankle: 1). overuse injuries and 2). acute injuries.

Fig: 1

Acute injuries are caused by sudden trauma and are see in many sporting activities (basketball, baseball, volleyball, football, martial arts, soccer, etc) (Figure 1). These injuries in the foot & ankle include sprains (partial or complete tear of a ligament), strains (a partial or complete tear of a muscle or tendon), and fractures. Ankle sprains can occur

By Dr. Warren Windram D.P.M.

from running, sliding into bases, fielding balls, jumping or cutting quickly, tackling, kicking, or even striking a ball. For example, a mild ankle sprain that remains un-diagnosed can lead to further damage of ankle ligaments, peroneal tendons, chronic ankle instability, and possibly an ankle fracture. Ankle fractures, metatarsal fractures, fifth metatarsal (Jones fractures), and tarsometatarsal injuries ( Lisfranc injuries/fractures) are all frequent injuries that occur from side-to-side cutting, tackling, or even direct contact with other players.

Over-use injuries seen in high school athletes occur when an athletic activity is repeated so often that parts of the foot & ankle do not have enough time to heal Fig: 2 between playing. This is commonly seen in all ranges of sporting activities where over-use/ excessive training can cause Achilles tendinopathy or heel pain (plantar fasciitis, calcaneal apophysistis, etc), stress fractures, posterior tibial tendonitis (PTTD). Undiagnosed and un-treated Achilles tendinopathy can lead to an Achilles tendon rupture, which is a devastating injury to any athlete that requires surgical intervention if enough damage has occurred (Fig 2). Many high school sports injuries can be prevented through proper conditioning, training, and equip- Fig: 3 ment (cleats, shoes, orthotics). Most importantly, all of these preventative measures noted above can be discussed and further reviewed with your local foot and ankle specialist, whether it is for sport orthotic prescriptions or shoe gear recommendations for certain sports (Fig. 3). For any lower extremity injuries or discomfort, a foot and ankle surgeon can evaluate your injury, obtain diagnostic imaging if needed, and develop a treatment plan to optimize the quickest return to your sport in the safest manner possible.

▸Dr. Windram specializes in foot & ankle reconstructive/trauma surgery, with a particular interest in total ankle joint replacement surgery. He is involved with podiatric surgical training, working as the podiatric surgical residency director at

Memorial Health Care System. Dr. Windram is the current director of the Foot and Ankle Fellowship program at Westside Regional Medical Center and is a clinical instructor at Westside & Memorial

Health Care System’s podiatric surgical residency programs. South Florida Institute of Sports Medicine 209 S.W. 84th Avenue, Plantation, FL 33324